As Stevie prepares to dish up Alex continually hugs her and kisses her, whispering suggestively in her ear.
Liz scolds him " Alex can you let the poor woman go it's tough enough trying to dish up a meal that's hot without having someone mauling you ."
Stevie giggles and says . " Yeah Alex."
He laughs and says . " She loves it Mum and if you weren't here she be ravishing me by now."
" Alex don't tell your Mother that." Stevie growls playfully.
Grinning Liz leaves the room.
...
" Kiss me then and I'll leave you alone." Alex offers.
Turning she hugs him and lets him kiss her.
He slides his hand under her top.
Her skin soft on his rough palms.
Nuzzling her neck he pleads. " Stevie I really need you."
" Alex we've got visitors." She says laughing as she pushes out of his embrace.
...
Everyone enjoys the dinner and the conversations eventually begin to flow freely.
Liz and Grace help with desert and later after clearing the table and sitting to chat for awhile Stevie asks if anyone would like coffee.
Several opt for a beer some would like coffee.
Alex moves off to grab beer.
...
Stevie walks back through the kitchen door and Alex is waiting for her.
Gathering her into his arms, he pushes her up against the cupboard door, kissing her passionately.
She accepts the kiss and enjoys his strong hands as they glide lustfully across her.
With all the will power she can find she pushes him back and breathlessly says. "Alex stop it we've got a dining room full of visitors."
He ignores her and delivers sensual kisses along her neck then with urgency finds her lips.
With his hands on her back he slides them down pulling her hard up against himself.
Shivers run through her.
"Stevie I need you." He whispers hungrily in her ear.
"Oh god Alex we can't. You'll have to wait." She gushes pushing him back and moving to the other side of the kitchen.
...
Liz enters the kitchen and says. "Can I help with anything?"
"Yes you can Mum we just have to duck out for half an hour to check on some stock." Alex says.
Stevie looks cross and says. "No Alex we don't, it can wait!"
"No Stevie it can't." He replies.
"Well if Stevie doesn't want to go Alex see if Marcus will." Liz offers.
Stevie tries not to grin.
"No I need Stevie." Alex pushes.
...
Stevie finishes making the coffees and says. "Alex can you help me with this please?"
"No sorry Stevie I can't." He replies grumpily and walks outside.
Liz says. "I'll take it Stevie if you want to go with Alex?"
Stevie looks annoyed and replies. "No he'll be right."
An hour later there is still no sign of Alex.
Stevie carries the twins upstairs and places them in their cots and then returns for Alexander.
...
Around eight thirty the phone rings and Stevie takes it in the office.
"Alexander Station, Stevie Ryan speaking... Oh Hi Tess...Ok so far but very fiery initially... Yes it was ...I don't know he's not here... long story but he's cracked the sads with me... Yes ...in the bad books again." She laughs then says. "Hang on I'll go and ask."
Walking into the lounge Stevie notices Alex is back.
"Tess is on the phone and wants to know if we'd all like to have lunch on Drover's tomorrow. Oh and Grace , Tess isn't riding at the moment because she's pregnant so she asked if I'd like to take you riding on Drover's?" Stevie tells them.
Everyone agrees but Alex is none committal.
Stevie finishes the phone call and returns to sit with Alex like she always does and as she's about to sit he reaches up and gently pushes her bottom so she is sitting away from him.
For a split second she glares at him then standing she tips her wine over his head and says angrily. "You're a jerk."
...
Alex looks embarrassed and everyone else just looks shocked.
Standing he walks into the kitchen and grabs a cloth to wipe himself.
Returning he wipes the furniture.
"Alex what have you done to upset her like that?" Liz asks.
"It's personal Mum and anyway what makes you think I've done something wrong?" He states.
His Mother doesn't say anything but looks at him questioningly.
He shakes his head and says. "I'm going to head upstairs are you all right here?"
"Yes we know where everything is goodnight." Liz offers and the others say goodnight too.
...
Upstairs Stevie has showered and climbed into bed hurt, angry and disgusted with Alex and his behaviour.
She hears him enter and feels him sit beside her on the bed.
"Stevie are you awake?" He asks softly.
She opens her eyes but doesn't reply.
"Can we talk about this?" He asks.
She shakes her head frightened if she speaks she'll either cry or rip strips off him or both.
"Can I hold you?" He asks.
"No." She answers.
He runs his hand across her face and she can feel the heat and the slight tremor in his touch.
As he does this he offers. "I'm so sorry."
She clasps his wrist and moves it from her, placing it back in his lap.
Replacing her arm under the doona she turns her back to him.
Still sitting on the bed he runs his hands up his face into his hair and sits leaning on his knees.
...
He stays there for quite a long time; she wants to tell him to go but chooses to ignore him.
Eventually he rises and entering the bathroom turns the shower on.
Stevie wakes startled.
The room is dark and she struggles to focus on time and place.
As she moves from the bed, she realizes Alex isn't there.
She runs her hand across his side of the bed and it's cold.
...
Standing she hears one of the babies crying but it sounds muffled.
Alarmed she runs to the door and realizes the cry is coming from downstairs.
Descending the stairs quickly she squints at the light even though it's dimmed.
Alex is sitting in his boxer shorts with Cooper whimpering over his shoulder.
He hasn't heard her.
She watches him gently rubbing their sons back and placing small kisses on the side of his little head as the little boy grizzles then settles then grizzles a little more.
She can't help but smile when she hears his beautiful voice whispering stories to their son.
...
"Alex." She offers softly.
He glances up at her.
"He's teething again Stevie. I thought you needed your rest so I brought him down here." He tells her.
"How long have you been down here ? Your side of the bed is cold." She inquires.
"He woke around one o'clock." He replies.
"Alex it's after three! You should have come and woken me, once he has a feed he'll probably settle." She advises sitting down beside them.
Releasing her dressing gown she takes the baby from him and Cooper suckles.
One small cold hand on his Mother's back and one resting on her breast close to his face.
...
Alex lifts his arm up and places it across the back of the lounge not game enough to put it on her shoulder in case she's still angry with him.
She touches his leg and says. "Alex you're freezing! Go to bed."
"No I'm alright I'll keep you company." He replies.
She flicks one side of her dressing gown over his legs and flicks the other side to cover her own.
They sit silently together each with their own thoughts.
...
Cooper smiles at Stevie when she finally looks him.
Smiling she whispers. "No time for smiling little man you're supposed to be asleep."
He smiles wider, milk spilling from his mouth as he begins to make noises at his Mother.
"I know you're tired Stevie but don't you think they're so damn cute when they do this?" Alex states.
Cooper lets go and smiles at his Father and wriggling around makes more funny squeals and baby noises.
Alex leans towards him and the baby holds up his hand.
Alex kisses his palm and says. "No time for playing mate Mum needs her sleep or she'll be grumpy with all of us in the morning."
Cooper giggles and again squeals making all sorts of noises.
"Yes listen to your Father; I'm grumpy with him already." She adds.
"Still?" Alex asks looking at her.
She looks at him studying his face and replies. "I have never said no to you Alex, never."
"I know." He acknowledges.
"I didn't say no last night either I only said wait! The way you treated me was disgraceful Alex and you hurt me." She states.
He looks down then back at her and says. "So you're angry because I wanted you?"
"That won't work this time Alex. I'm angry because you demanded and when I didn't deliver when and how you wanted it, you behaved like a spoilt child that wants a toy and can't have it." She explains.
He thinks about what she's said for a moment and then responds. "Do you have any idea how difficult it is for me Stevie?"
"What and you think it's easy for me? Do you think I don't know you have a high level of need?"She replies.
"So do you!" He accuses.
"Do I Alex really?" She asks.
"You always enjoy yourself." He replies.
"Nothing has changed about the intimacy in our relationship Alex and yet we have two more children and my energy levels are zero most nights. I love how we are together and I love that you want me like that and I don't want that to change. What I'm angry about is just once when I said not now, you sulked and then when I went to sit with you I was pushed away. I have never pushed you away Alex even when I'm exhausted and I just want to go to sleep and you always want way more than just to sit beside me!"She explains.
"Why haven't you said something?" He asks.
She grins and says. "Because I have never felt so loved and I'm always so relaxed afterwards."
He doesn't say anything else.
Leaning in he gives her a sweet kiss.
...
He drops his arm onto her shoulder and looking down at the baby says. "He's finally asleep Stevie."
Smiling she replies. "Almost."
Alex runs the back of his hand across the baby's cheek.
The baby grins but continues suckling with his eyes closed.
"He's so cute Stevie." Alex says softly.
"Takes after his Father." She whispers.
...
A few minutes later he asks. "Are you ready to go to bed?"
"So are you right?" She asks.
As they walk upstairs he replies. "Yeah"
"I see." She chuckles.
"I see what?" He asks.
She grins at him.
"What?" He questions.
She raises an eyebrow and grins. "Your needs have been met?"
He looks embarrassed and says. "You need to stop right there Mrs Ryan."
"Right." She states.
He nudges her.
She giggles.
...
"Bright sunshine and clear skies Tess. Perfect day for a family lunch!" Nick offers as he walks inside.
" Yeah I just hope everyone is on speaking terms when they get here." Tess states.
"I thought you said Marcus and Bryce were ok." Nick asks.
" Yeah but Stevie said she was in the bad books with Alex." Tess replies.
Nick laughs and says . "What could she possibly do wrong? He hasn't fought with her in ages."
"I have no idea she didn't say."Tess remarks.
...
"Hello!" Alex calls as he walks in the back porch, Blake held safely in his arms.
"Speak of the devil." Nick whispers to Tess.
She chuckles.
Stevie arrives with Cooper in her arms.
Grace and Marcus walk in behind them with Henry.
"Where's Alexander?" Tess asks.
"He's with Mum and Bryce they went into Gungellan earlier this morning to the Markets." Alex replies.
"So how did it all go with Bryce?"Nick asks.
"Coffee's fresh if you'd like some." Tess states.
"I will thanks but I'll grab the boys cots first they're ready for a sleep." Alex replies
Alex hands Blake to Nick and says. "Yeah eventually it was ok. First up it wasn't pretty was it Marcus?"
"No it wasn't.' Marcus replies.
...
Tess asks. "Can I hold Henry please Marcus?"
He smiles and says "Yeah of course you can. He'll want his Mum soon he's due for a feed."
Marcus follows Alex out to grab Henry's cot.
Tess looks at Stevie and says. "Everything alright?"
Stevie says. "Yes all good again."
"All it took was a glass of wine over his head." Grace laughs then adds. "I almost laughed out loud the look on his face was priceless."
Tess looks puzzled and says. "I thought you were in the bad books?"
"I was and I didn't deserve it but he sure as hell deserved the wine." Stevie replies.
"What did he do?" Tess asks.
Stevie glances at Nick and then shakes her head and says. "Just drop it Tess."
...
Bryce and Liz are having a beautiful morning with Alexander at the markets.
Liz has caught up with old friends and is as proud as punch showing off Alexander as they all gush over what a handsome little boy he is.
Liz introduces Bryce to many locals and he charms them all with his easy manner and sharp wit.
Although not a farmer himself he has always loved horticulture and with Alex being a part of the farming world Bryce has made a point of reading and learning all he can about it.
Bryce can well and truly hold his own in a conversation and takes great delight in watching the markets for stock and grain prices.
Alexander toddles along holding onto his Grandfather's hand.
...
"Will we have a Devonshire tea Bryce and then we'll head off?" Liz asks.
Bryce smiles at her and says. "Whatever you want Liz I'm having a marvellous time."
"Ganda! Ganda!" Alexander calls as he taps Bryce's leg.
Looking down Bryce grins at his grandson and the funny name he calls him.
It's quite obvious he's trying to say Granddad but it comes out as Ganda and Liz has become Ganma.
Bryce squats down and says "Yes Alexander how can I help?"
"Tired Ganda up pease?" Alexander asks.
Bryce lifts the little boy up and Alexander wraps his arms around his Grandfather's neck and snuggles into his embrace.
Bryce says. "He's such a cuddly little boy isn't he?"
Liz smiles and explains. "He's an exact replica of Alex, Bryce. He was the sweetest and most gentle little boy and he loved to be hugged and kissed."
Bryce cuddles into the little boy and thinks about how much he missed with Alex and Marcus too.
He can't go back in time although he sometimes wishes he could.
...
Liz walks over with a small tray with two teas, some scones and a little hot chocolate for Alexander.
As she's about to sit she hears a familiar voice. "Liz! How are you?"
"Hello Harry I'm well thanks. You've met Bryce?" She asks.
"Yes, Bryce."Harry nods.
Harry spots Alexander snuggled into Bryce's chest and something stabs him in the heart.
Not to be deterred Harry says. "Hello Alexander. How are you?"
Alexander smiles and raising his hand says. "Hi Hawy!"
Harry smiles then looking back at Liz he asks. "Are you up for a visit?"
"Yes we're staying with Stevie and Alex but were having lunch with them, Bryce's son and his family over on Drover's today. We just thought we'd bring Alexander into the market this morning and he's had a lovely time." Liz offers.
"So have we." Bryce offers.
Liz smiles at him and says. "Yes we have haven't we?"
Harry hates that they're enjoying themselves especially with Alex's son and that they're heading to Drover's to play happy families with Nick and Tess.
Hiding his anger and bitterness he chats for a little longer then bids them good day and moves off.
...
Tess shows Grace the homestead from the cellar to the widows walk.
Then she shows her the family tree that she's working on and all the old trinkets, furniture and photos.
Grace loves it all.
Tess says. "Nick and I have been transferring all the information we can onto the computer so we can have it made into book then we'll all have a copy of the history of our family."
"So will I be able to have a copy?" Grace asks.
"Yes of course we've already got one ear marked for you plus now that you're here it's even better. Stevie's going to take you out after lunch and you will love it Grace. I was a city girl when I came here but now I wouldn't live anywhere else. Stevie loves it. Regan does too. I'm so glad you've come home Grace you have no idea how happy I am to have another McLeod on the place." Tess explains.
Grace smiles at the reference to being a McLeod it's been a long time since she was called Grace McLeod.
She likes it.
She likes it a lot.
...
